Since 1995, Rare Blend’s music resonates with purists as well as those who embrace a progressive multi-genre approach to original instrumental music. Pulling from a variety of influences and musical styles, Rare Blend has gained rave reviews regionally and worldwide from major publications such as All About Jazz, Jazz Review, 20th Century Guitar magazine, Progression Magazine, Relix Magazine, Akron Beacon Journal, The Plain Dealer, Cleveland Scene, and many more...also receiving college & internet radio airplay and CD sales in the US, Europe, South America, Austrailia, Japan, etc...
Because of their diversity and growing catalog of music, Rare Blend can be found performing on bills that range from Jazz to jam band, fusion to progressive rock. They have shared bills or have opened for the likes of David Sanborn, Special EFX, Ozric Tentacles, Tunnels, Dark Star Orchestra, Kevin Eubanks, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Spyro Gyra, Frogg Cafe, Los Lobos, and others...
Started in 1993, Rare Blend (Samalot / Holt), released their debut independent CD entitled Cinefusion as a duo. Recorded and produced by Vic Samalot and Bobbi Holt, Cinefusion received local, national, and even international college radio airplay and was performed live in small intimate venues in Ohio.
In 1998, Rare Blend expanded to a four piece with bassist/composer Jeff Scott and drummer Paul Stranahan. As a quartet, Rare Blend added additional musical texture to the original concept and took the live performance to a new level.
CD album recordings added to the catalog to date:
1 CINEFUSION (1995)
2 INFINITY (2000)
3 EVOLUTION THEORY (2002)
4 STOPS ALONG THE WAY (2006) Introduced veteran drummer (Fayreweather, Tie Die Harvest, and Wish You Were Here) Vince Broncaccio, whose talent brought a fresh nuance to the group during 2005 and 2006.
5 SESSIONS (2009) With veteran drummer Ivan George, whose fusion style influenced by Billy Cobham and Dennis Chambers has brought the improvisational edge to the RB fold since 2007.
Both “jazz” and “jam band” in nature, "SESSIONS" is an
exercise in the “single-take” mentality that has become one
of the band’s trademarks. (Jud Conway - Kindweb.com)
"RARE BLEND can proudly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with
BRAND X and the best of the progressive/jazz/fusion groups,
and “Sessions” is as good as anything recorded by their
peers. Highly recommended to aficionados of fusion and
improvisational jam bands". (Joseph Shingler - Prognaut.com
/ Bangor, ME)
These tracks exhibit the band’s knack for agreeable pacing
and smart use of breathing space. In competently mining the
heady realms of Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra,
etc., Rare Blend joins exclusive company.” (Progression
Magazine - USA)
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Both “jazz” and “jam band” in nature, "SESSIONS" is an
exercise in the “single-take” mentality that has become one
of the band’s trademarks. (Jud Conway - Kindweb.com)
"RARE BLEND can proudly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with
BRAND X and the best of the progressive/jazz/fusion groups,
and “Sessions” is as good as anything recorded by their
peers. Highly recommended to aficionados of fusion and
improvisational jam bands". (Joseph Shingler - Prognaut.com
/ Bangor, ME)
These tracks exhibit the band’s knack for agreeable pacing
and smart use of breathing space. In competently mining the
heady realms of Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra,
etc., Rare Blend joins exclusive company.” (Progression
Magazine - USA)
" I’d highly recommend this to fans of fusion and fusion
based prog rock. It’s a great set." (Gary Hill - Music
Street Journal / Rockford, IL)
"Stops Along The Way" is Rare Blend's most efficient
recording. The songs naturally jump genres while traveling
through an aural landscape that's filled with songs that
pretty much fit their titles. (Michael Gallucci / Scene
Magazine - Cleveland, OH USA)
Rare Blend is a very seasoned group from the Cleveland, Ohio
area. "Stops Along The Way" is what I would call a
jazz/fusion jam band album. I have heard a lot of mixed
feelings about jam bands but when it sounds good you cant
deny that the players know what they are doing. (Jimmy
Caterine / Guitarnoise.com - Canada)
Wonderful compilation of tracks. I have been waiting for
this release since the announcement of a new project was in
the works. Get this one, and then you're hooked. You'll get
the other three, like I did. (RB fan - Baltimore, MD)
I recently took a trip to Cleveland and happened upon a
radio station ( 89.3 ) I believe, and heard some of your
music. I was blown away, mostly because I too was a
professional musician in the late 70s early 80s and enjoyed
this style of music. It is refreshing to hear that it is
still as alive as it was then! (Jimmy Valentine - RB Fan)
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